What?! How Did I Become the Clan Leader?

"Uncle Hiashi, Uncle Hizashi~"

"Qingwu~ You've arrived."

Qingwu walked over to pour tea for the elders, then stood obediently behind his grandfather. Hyuga Hoze looked at Qingwu with approval: "You brat, you still have a bit of awareness~"

"Thank you, Qingwu~"

Hiashi and Hizashi also smiled and thanked him, their eyes showing they were quite satisfied with Qingwu; he was polite and humble.

Even though Qingwu's status as the clan's helmsman was now on par with or even half a step above theirs, he still served them with the courtesy of a junior, which moved them deeply.

"Hm?!"

Hyuga Hoze looked at the hesitant Hyuga Hiashi and said with a chuckle: "Heh~ Hiashi, since when did you become so fidgety? If you have something to say, just say it. We are all family here; what is there to be uneasy about~"

Hyuga Hiashi thought that was true, so he voiced the doubt in his heart: "Great Elder, was it not too disrespectful to the higher-ups today? It doesn't align with our usual Hyuga style~"

Hyuga Hoze laughed: "No~ Hiashi, this level was just right. Little Hizashi, you explain it to him~"

Hizashi did not expect the Great Elder to call on him, but he still voiced his own perspective: "Brother, the reason the Great Elder did this is because of the Hokage and Danzo."

"The purpose of their visit today was to probe the true strength of our Hyuga."

"They mainly wanted to check the Great Elder's physical condition. Once the Great Elder is in a bad state."

"Or if we show even a hint of weakness, we can just wait for endless exploitation and suppression."

"The Uchiha are a cautionary tale."

Qingwu looked at Hizashi with surprise; this uncle had good political insight. It was a pity he died so early in the original story.

However, surprise was just surprise; he wouldn't interrupt. He would just listen to what his elders had to say; this was all life experience.

"I see~"

Hyuga Hiashi immediately understood: "I understand. If we keep compromising and retreating, the higher-ups will only push further, constantly suppressing and encroaching upon us."

Great Elder Hyuga Hoze nodded: "Exactly. That is why we must be tough and let them know that the Hyuga are not to be bullied. Whoever dares to make a move will have their teeth kicked in~"

Hiashi said with some worry: "But will this cause dissatisfaction among the higher-ups? You know, those people in the upper echelons are not exactly magnanimous." He wanted to say they were black-hearted...

We should just ignore them; why must we have such intense confrontation? Hizashi thought to himself.

Qingwu secretly thought: If you retreat one step, they will advance ten. It's boiling a frog in warm water; you can be a thief for a thousand days, but you can't guard against a thief for a thousand days.

"Sigh~ Hiashi..."

Hyuga Hoze sighed inwardly; this clan head's temperament was still a bit too soft: "It's not a question of whether it will offend them, but that it definitely will. Unless the Hyuga clan voluntarily submits and hands over our thousand-year accumulation to become their vassals."

"From then on, we would be beasts of burden, and whether we could even live would depend on their whims~"

Hyuga Hiashi was stunned upon hearing this, then imagined that tragic scene and said incredulously: "How could that be?"

"As one of the largest clans in Konoha, the Hyuga have deep foundations and strength."

"As long as we show enough power and determination, the higher-ups won't dare to offend us easily."

Qingwu curled his lips: Too naive. When you block their path, you are the top clan, and you must be wiped out regardless.

Hyuga Hoze shook his head and sighed: "A top clan?! A thousand-year clan?! Then how did the Uzumaki clan disappear?"

"Can you still hear any news about the Senju clan? Why hasn't Tsunade returned to the village..."

"Just look at the present; the Uchiha have also been wiped out, with only a few survivors left. They were far more powerful than the Hyuga in the past~"

"Go look at the map of the village from the early days of Konoha, then look at the territory and population of the Sarutobi and the other three clans now. Their scale has expanded more than tenfold; even the Hyuga pale in comparison."

Qingwu thought to himself, Grandfather is worthy of being an elder who lived through the Warring States period; he sees things so clearly.

One must know that in the final battle, the number of Sarutobi ninjas who participated exceeded three thousand, not counting the combatants left behind or the ordinary Sarutobi clansmen. Ginger really is spicier when it's old.

"What?! No... it can't be!!" The brothers Hiashi and Hizashi were shocked, their faces full of disbelief: "Through several Ninja World Wars, all clans in Konoha have been losing personnel. How is it possible that their four clans' populations have grown tenfold??"

Qingwu took out the Konoha atlas at the right moment: "Two uncles, please look. The situation might be even more serious than what Grandfather said..."

Hyuga Hoze was stunned; this grandson had some tricks up his sleeve.

He felt a sense of gratification.

"Rustle~"

The two brothers hurriedly stood up to flip through it. The more they looked, the more shocked and cold their hearts became. By comparison, many small clans from the early days of the village were gone, some medium-sized families had also vanished, and most had withered away with greatly reduced scales, yet the Sarutobi and the other three clans occupied...

"How could they dare... how could it be like this..." The two felt as if their world was collapsing. They had thought it was just a show of force and suppression.

They hadn't expected it to be a life-and-death struggle, and a bloodless one at that. For a moment, they felt a chill run through their entire bodies.

"Hmph~ You two." Hyuga Hoze was heartbroken: "Damn it~ How did two cotton balls like you pop out of the shadows of Konoha, and you're both from my Hyuga clan, too? Unbelievable~"

"Great Elder, please calm your anger~ calm your anger~" Hiashi and Hizashi hurriedly stood up to apologize, serving tea and water to soothe the Great Elder's mood.

One had to know that when the Great Elder was angry, he would really hit people. He called it "guiding cultivation"—it wouldn't kill you, but it would definitely be excruciating.

Besides, they both had families and status; it would be too embarrassing to be bruised and swollen in front of the juniors.

Qingwu also took the opportunity to console them: "Grandfather, the two uncles are just too honest; they never thought there would be internal thieves in Konoha."

"Yes, yes~" The Hiashi brothers nodded in agreement.

Hyuga Hoze shook his head. "This old man is not angry, merely sorrowful. The entirety of Konoha has been deceived by those few scoundrels; they are digging up the very roots of Konoha."

For a moment, everyone fell silent.

After a long while, it was Qingwu who broke the stillness. "Grandfather, two uncles, we cannot change the past, but the future is in our own hands. Give me time, and I guarantee that the Hyuga will ascend to the pinnacle of the Ninja World."

For the first time.

This was the first time Qingwu had displayed such sharp edges.

Hearing this.

Hyuga Hoze laughed, a very joyful laugh. "Hahaha, good, good, good! Grandfather will wait to see the day you reach the summit."

Logically speaking.

To say such things in front of the clan head.

It was an act of rebellion.

Utterly insubordinate.

Yet Hyuga Hiashi did not mind; on the contrary, he was quite pleased—if he didn't dote on his own son-in-law, who would? "You brat should have stepped up long ago. You've always used your young age as an excuse to slack off, and I've been the one taking the blame for your ideas. The clansmen aren't fools, you know."

"You should be the clan head. I also want a few days of leisure to properly spend time with your aunt and Hanabi..." He didn't mention Hinata, because he knew Qingwu took better care of her than he ever could.

As soon as the words fell.

"That's right, Qingwu. Big brother is right, you should be the clan head. The clansmen will surely support you wholeheartedly," Hyuga Hizashi also said in full agreement.

It was Qingwu who had resolved the conflict between the Main House and the Branch House.

That year.

It was also he who resolved his own certain-death predicament, shifting the blame onto Asuma Sarutobi and allowing him to escape.

It was likewise his proposal.

That allowed Neji to learn the secret family techniques.

"We agree as well."

Before they knew it, a group of spirited elders had appeared at the entrance of the living room. They were the other elders of the Hyuga: the Second Elder, Third Elder, Fourth Elder, and two veteran clan elders.

All of them looked at him with satisfaction.

Nonsense—who wouldn't like a junior who possessed such intellect and strength, and who could even restore their vitality for a few more years?

"Respected elders, what are you all doing? I'm still just a child." Qingwu's mouth twitched uncontrollably.

How did eating melons end up with him becoming the target?

He turned to look at his grandfather, who was beaming with smiles, and immediately understood: this had all been planned by his grandfather and the others.

It seemed the Uchiha clan's annihilation.

Had dealt them too great a shock.

It had instilled a sense of crisis in them.

He looked at his grandfather with pitiful eyes: I really don't want to be the clan head; it's too tiring, the pressure is too great.

Hyuga Hoze responded very earnestly, his eyes even carrying a hint of pleading. This old man, who had been tough his entire life, revealed such weakness for the first time for the sake of the clan's survival.

Qingwu retreated instantly. "Alright, I understand."

The Great Elder's face lit up with joy, not a trace of his previous dejection remaining. "I told you he would agree."

"Quick, pay up! Pay up..."

"Sigh, you old fellow won again."

"Damn it, don't tell me you and your grandson teamed up to swindle my pension."

"Pah, pah, pah! You're the one swindling people. This old man is not that kind of person; if I'm lying, I'm a dog..."

"That's not for sure. You've swindled us plenty of times before."

"Hmph, you still have to pay. A bet is a bet."

"Fine, if I bet with you again, I'm a dog."

"You say that every time, yet you still bet. Pay up! Pay up!"

"Damn it, it's truly evil; you win every single time." The other elders reluctantly pulled out a large stack of bills.

You all used me to place bets?!

"I..." Qingwu almost cursed out loud.

Can't curse, can't curse. That's Grandfather, Grandfather...

Dear, oh dear.

Don't be angry, don't be angry~

"The bet was real, and handing the Hyuga Clan over to you is also real; we have all seen your contributions to the Hyuga with our own eyes."

"Go ahead and do as you please; we will support you."

The Four Great Elders, the Two Clan Elders, and his two uncles, Hiashi and Hizashi, all looked at him with expectant eyes.

Qingwu's eyes grew moist.

What are you all doing?

"Qingwu, from today on, you are the Patriarch of the Hyuga."